Texas House Speaker abandons bid for another term

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) abandoned his bid to serve another term as the leader of the lower chamber. 

“Out of deep respect for this institution and its members, and after careful consideration and private consultation with colleagues, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race for Speaker of the Texas House,” Phelan said in a Friday statement, according to multiple reports. 

Phelan has served as the Texas House Speaker since January 2021. 

In March, Phelan did not secure the majority of the votes during the primary. Two months later, he narrowly defeated his conservative challenger, David Covey, who was supported by President-elect Trump, in a contentious race. Covey was also backed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R). 

Phelan was heavily criticized by the state’s GOP right flank after presiding over Paxton’s impeachment trial. Paxton was eventually acquitted by the state Senate. 

Following Phelan’s vote to impeach Paxton, the Texas GOP censured him in February. 

Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, said he will continue his tenure as the member of the Texas House. 

“I will and look forward to working with my colleagues to nominate a candidate who can best unite the House and ensure our beloved chamber remains a beacon of integrity and conservative leadership in the 89th Legislature,” he said in the statement.

Republicans are slated to meet Saturday to pick the Phelan’s successor. 

Following Phelan’s announcement, Texas House Democrats touted their unity and argued that it was the only caucus addressing issues facing Texans. 

“Nothing has changed for Texas House Democrats as we look towards January and the next legislative session,” they wrote in a Friday statement. “With 40 days until we reconvene in Austin, only one Caucus stands united and focused on the real problems affecting Texans: struggling public schools, unregulated price gauging after disasters and the loss of bodily autonomy.”